Competition: Blue Square Premier Play-off Semi-final L1
Weather at kick-off: overcast
Goals:
Burton: Clare 66' (pen), Stride 69'
United: McEvilly 78' (pen), 84'
With United trailing 2-0, Lee McEvilly came off the bench to score a penalty and a free-kick to level the scores and set up an enthralling second leg at the Trade Recruitment Stadium on Tuesday.
Jimmy Quinn made five changes to the side that won at Northwich on Saturday, bringing back Wayne Hatswell, Mark Albrighton, Michael Morrison, Rob Wolleaston and Mark Beesley in place of Josh Coulson, Mark Peters, Ben Farrell, Robbie Willmott and Lee McEvilly.
Nigel Clough made one change to the side that drew 4-4 against Exeter City, calling up Andy Corbett for Marc Goodfellow on the right of midfield.
Welcomed onto the pitch by almost 1,600 travelling fans in good voice and with handfuls of yellow tickertape, the U's lined up with four at the back with Morrison and Reed in the full-back positions, four in midfield with Gleeson and Reed in the wide positions, and Vieira and Beesley as front pairing.
The match kicked off on a heavily-watered and muddy pitch with standing water in places and United made the first breakaway after two minutes. Mark Beesley was released down the right by Vieira's through ball, beating Burton's high defensive line and leaving a defender in his wake as he cut in and fired a shot that Poole parried at his near post. United tried a similar move twice more in the next few minutes but Beesley was denied by the offside flag.
Burton's first chance arrived in the ninth minute when John McGrath tried an optimistic shot from 35 yards and curled it high and wide, and two minutes later Clare, back on defensive duties, stuck out a leg to send Vieira sprawling inside the area but Mr Hooper waved play on.
Vieira broke away again on 14 and was denied by a perfectly-timed John Brayford challenge in the area, and two minutes later Wolleaston slipped the ball to Gleeson whose excellent cross was headed over the bar by Vieira.
The Brazilian was causing problems with his pace and on 22 he worked his way almost to the left-hand corner flag and crossed towards Wolleaston, who had made a strong run into the area, but the ball deflected away.
A minute later at the other end Daryl Clare took a Burton free kick from the left side of the area and whipped in a ball that was heading under the bar until tipped over by Danny Potter, and the resulting corner was scrambled away.
Brewers winger Keith Gilroy was first to be booked in the 26th minute when he caught former Burton player Paul Carden as they challenged for the ball, Carden spinning to the ground and Gilroy unfortunate to be booked.
Carden sent Gleeson away down the right three minutes later but his cross was scooped up by veteran keeper Poole, moments later Vieira was denied by a hair-trigger offside flag, while Gilroy, who had been closely-marked by Gleeson, wriggled clear on 33 but his cross was safely collected by Potter.
Vieira did well down the left again on 38 to beat his man and cross for Beesley but the ball was fractionally too high, and two minutes later Burton had their best chance of the half when Harrad's low ball across the box hit Danny Brown's shin with the U's skipper running back towards his goal, but the ball was smothered at his feet by Potter.
United earned two corners shortly before half-time, the first one cleared behind and the second taken short, and although the resulting cross reached Beesley at the far post the ball was too high and flew harmlessly wide. Half-time 0-0
Half-time summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Both sides have been going for the throat in this first half of a first leg. United look more dangerous but Burton are far from being ruled out."
Second half:
Jimmy Quinn made a half-time change to withdraw Stephen Reed, who had needed attention during the first half after twisting awkwardly in the mud, and his replacement was Courtney Pitt who continued his record of playing in every game this season, a total of 55 appearances.
Three minutes in, Pitt was harshly penalised for handball just outside the area when the ball clearly hit his chest, and it looked as though United would be cruelly punished when Brayford climbed above Albrighton to head the resulting free kick past Potter but referee Hooper disallowed the goal for pushing.
Burton were in the driving seat and on 52 Carden received a stern talking-to but escaped a booking for a foul on Brayford, and three minutes later a Burton move from left to right saw Clare link with Harrad who picked out Corbett cutting in from the right but Hatswell nicked the ball off the winger with a well-timed challenge in the area.
Play was scrappy and United struggled to get their attacks going towards the noisy and expectant away fans, and in a competitive atmosphere the second booking arrived on 57 when Stride was punished for dissent.
Burton still looked the team most likely and Clare fired wide on the hour while Brayford tested Potter with a header soon afterwards, and Gilroy cut inside and tried his luck from long-distance but fired wide with teammates racing through the middle in support.
The pressure paid off in the 65th minute when a cross towards Gilroy hit Pitt on the hip and as he stretched to prod the ball away Gilroy tripped over his leg and the referee awarded a penalty, booking Pitt for the foul. Daryl Clare stepped up and calmly stroked the ball inside the left hand post with Potter diving the other way.
The striker entered the referee's book for the wrong reasons two minutes later when he reacted angrily and struck out at Morrison after a foul, receiving a booking for his reaction, while Albrighton got booked for his necessary involvement in the pushing and shoving that followed, and the home side took full advantage from Gilroy's free kick when their captain Darren Stride rose highest to score with a looping header.
Jimmy Quinn made a double substitution in the 73rd minute to bring on Lee McEvilly and Ben Farrell for Beesley and Gleeson, while Nigel Clough sent on Aaron Webster for Gilroy.
The changes seemed to lift United and Vieira had a shot cleared behind for a corner, which Pitt lifted into the area, and as the ball ricocheted around the area and was driven goalwards, it was blocked by Hurst's wrist as it flew towards the near post, the linesman signalled for a penalty and after consulting with him Mr Hooper pointed to the spot.
Just five minutes after joining the fray, Lee McEvilly did not hesitate to take responsibility and smashed the ball down the middle as Poole dived to his left, sending the United fans behind that goal into raptures.
United players and fans were clearly lifted by the goal and the comeback was completed in the 84th minute when Corbett clattered through Pitt, and from 20 yards McEvilly stepped up to power a free kick over the wall and into the top left corner, and although Poole got fingertips to it he could only help it into the net.
United won two corners in quick succession and Burton nerves showed when James kicked the ball away after conceding a free kick two minutes from time, while Ben Farrell collected a booking for time-wasting a minute later.
The final talking point came a minute into stoppage time when Clare bundled the ball into the net but it was rightly disallowed for his shove on Potter, and United finished the strongest before the final whistle signalled scenes of celebration between U's fans and players.
Burton Albion:
Kevin Poole, John Brayford, Tony James, Darren Stride (c), Paul Hurst; Andy Corbett, Michael Simpson, John McGrath, Keith Gilroy (Aaron Webster 74'); Shaun Harrad, Daryl Clare.
Subs not used: Marc Goodfellow, Ryan Austin, Saul Deeney, Matt Williams.
Booked: Gilroy foul 26', Stride dissent 57', Clare unsporting behaviour 68', James dissent 88'
Cambridge United:
Danny Potter, Michael Morrison, Mark Albrighton, Wayne Hatswell, Danny Brown (c); Dan Gleeson (Ben Farrell 73'), Rob Wolleaston, Paul Carden, Stephen Reed (Courtney Pitt 46'); Mark Beesley (Lee McEvilly 73'), Magno Vieira.
Subs not used: Mark Peters, Lee Boylan.
Booked: Pitt foul 65', Albrighton unsporting behaviour 68', Farrell time-wasting 88'
Referee: Mr S. Hooper
Att: 5,757
Match Summary from match commentator Mark Johnson:
"Cambridge United pulled themselves back from the brink of play-off oblivion with an extraordinary fightback at Burton. It may have been the first of a two-legged tie but the game was as open as the last minutes of a cup match as the teams exchanged blows throughout. Burton struck first with two goals in three second half minutes and the U's looked down and out, but it ain't over 'til it's over and lee McEvilly converted a penalty and smote a free kick to send the sides back to the Trade Recruitment Stadium on Tuesday with the scores level."
Mark's Man of the Match:
"Lee McEvilly - only had 17 minutes but what a 17 minutes, turning the tide back in United's favour. Honourable mention for Jimmy Quinn for some decisive substitutions and the Amber Nation who never stopped believing."
Ref: Mr Hooper - made some strange decisions but in the end it worked out OK for United. 5/10."
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